Rwanda is participating in the biggest Automation trade fair in the South East Asian region with more than 850 exhibitors and co-exhibitors.

The exhibition is expected to attract over 50,000 visitors.

The Automation 2014 exhibition at the Bombay Exhibition Centre in Mumbai, the Commercial Capital of India, started on Wednesday and is due to close today.

Joseph Kabakeza, an official at the Rwanda High Commission in India, told The New Times that on the first day, Rwanda’s 35 square meter pavilion "had a constant flow of visitors who showed keen interest in further exploring investment and business opportunities in the country.”

"Apart from tea and coffee samples at our pavilion, no other products are showcased but we showcase existing opportunities for investment and business in different sectors. We engage and network with companies from around to attract them to Rwanda,” Kabakeza said.

Kabakeza said Rwanda is participating as a partner country and explained that countries always pay huge amounts to be partners in such events to get visibility.

They are allotted slots to speak at events, make presentations and appear in all printed materials and banners, he said.

Over 500 exhibitors from world renowned companies in the automation sector are showcasing their products.

At the opening ceremony, Kabakeza committed to facilitate Indian companies that are considering explore business opportunities in Rwanda.

Rwandan culture was showcased with a series of traditional dances performed by Rwandan students from Bangalore and Pune, he said.

Automation, or automatic control, is the use of various control systems for operating equipment such as machinery, processes in factories, boilers and heat treating ovens, switching in telephone networks, steering and stabilisation of ships, aircraft and other applications with minimal or reduced human intervention.